That's a complicated question, as each system can vary in complexity, and there can be challenges associated with doing a quality job.  With that being said, we have a minimum charge of $150 to clean each dryer vent run. 

If you've never had your dryer vent cleaned, it's a good idea to have it cleaned. You'll be surprised at how much faster your dryer dries your clothes afterwards.

Many commercial locations are required to have their dryer vent systems cleaned annually, to keep their fire insurance company happy.  However, many systems require more frequent cleaning than annually. Some dryer vent systems could likely go a bit longer between cleanings.  All dryer vents accumulate lint & how quickly would have to be determined after an evaluation & initial cleaning. Most dryer manufacturers recommend annual service of the dryer vent.

There are kits available at hardware stores for cleaning dryer vents. Aside from the brush kit, you'll need a cordless drill, a shop vacuum, & perhaps a ladder if the register is above your reach. However, you should understand that it's extremely easy to damage to duct with the brush kit in inexperienced hands.  As well as the risk of accidentally getting the brush trapped in the dryer vent can be rather expensive to retrieve.  For the cost associated with the service, and the risk associated with doing it yourself, you'd be better off calling the professionals at Vent Genie instead. 

Dryer vent lines when clogged with lint, are identifiable due to a couple of situations that vary based on severity:

1: You start seeing lint on the outside termination damper.
2: Your clothing starts taking longer and longer to dry.
3: The top of your dryer gets hot during operation.
4:  Lint starts showing up in the laundry room around the dryer.
5: The dryer shuts off prematurely during a normal run cycle. 

Yes, absolutely. Dryers have a safety switch inside the unit that detects high temperatures.  This "high limit switch" will disconnect power to the heating elements if the temperature exceeds somewhere between 250°F and 300°F. This sensor monitors the temperature within the drying drum and acts as a backup to the dryer's main thermostat.  Most commonly the problem isn't the dryer itself, but the vent itself not flowing enough hot wet air.

Yes, absolutely. As a matter of fact, the most common reason the dryer is leaving clothes wet when you pull them out is related to the dryer vent line not properly exhausting the hot damp air out.

Simply performing a search for "dryer vent cleaning" will provide a list of qualified dryer vent cleaning contractors near you.  Picking a company should be based on the number of positive reviews as well as how they responded to negative reviews.  Or you can just contact us at Vent Genie for a quality fairly priced dryer vent cleaning.

Ok, a few things. Please don't use a gas powered leaf blower indoors. I'm sorry I had to say that, it hurt to type. But,  yes you can use an electric leaf blower to blow out a dryer vent. However,  the common experience with using a leaf blower is that a clog in the line will be made worse, and can actually damage the duct. If the line isn't clogged, the mess it'll make outside is substantial. Sure you "can", as many have shown on tiktok, but you should be asking yourself, should I?

Yes, these vent lines are more suitable for use with bathroom exhausts than for dryers due to the heat associated with dryers. These lines are not flame resistant, and will actually catch fire themselves. You should replace those lines as soon as possible.

That's complicated because every dryer vent is a little different. Some exhaust at ground level, whereas some require ladders or crawling under houses to access.  But, it's normally a pretty quick process where technicians are in and out of your home in an hour or so.

Yes, technicians will usually use ladders to access the roof to gain access to the exhaust cap.

Most of the time yes,  the dryer will require detaching & moving out of the way to access the vent system. There are some situations that would require the washing machine to be disconnected and moved. However, there are also some very rare situations that would allow the dryer vent to be cleaned without disconnecting either the dryer or washer.

Yes, it's extremely advisable to have the dryer vent cleaned out before installation of a new dryer. In fact, many manufacturers warranties will be voided if their appliance is connected to a severely clogged dryer vent system. 

You really don't want to wait more than two or three years to clean your dryer vent, because the longer you delay, the faster lint and debris build up. This heavy accumulation is a serious problem as it forces your dryer to work harder to push air through. Which leads to much longer dryer run times and lots of wasted energy. Most importantly, a choked vent drastically increases the risk of a dryer fire, as the trapped, flammable lint gets dangerously hot. For the sake of efficiency and safety, cleaning your vent regularly is a must.

Yes, we use a vacuum to collect the debris removed from the dryer vent as it's cleaned. Otherwise there'd be a big mess created.

Unfortunately no, cleaning the interior of the dryer requires specialized training to disassemble and more importantly the successful reassembly of a dryer. Some dryers will allow easy access beyond the filter screen to be vacuumed up without complex disassembly. 

That really depends on the length of the run, and how much time between cleanings has passed.  Typically, in residential settings it's less than 5 gallons. However, we've removed 35 gallon trash bags full of lint from long overdue systems.

Yes, it's quite common to find burned & charred material in a dryer vent. It's not surprising considering dryer vent fires are the 3rd most common types of structure fire cause in the US. 

When it comes to the rules, it's a huge "nope" — it's absolutely against building code to vent your dryer exhaust inside your home. The codes are super clear that dryer air has to go to outside of the building envelope. They're designed that way to protect you because venting indoors pumps too much hot, damp air and fine lint into your house.  This causes moisture problems and potential mold. Also, if you have a gas dryer, it’s even worse because you'd be risking carbon monoxide poisoning, which is why the code takes it so seriously. 

Those indoor dryer vent setups are basically a mold farm just waiting to happen. When you use one of those kits, you're taking all the hot, moist air that your dryer pulls out of your wet clothes and you're just dumping it right into your house's air. That sudden, huge blast of humidity makes everything damp, especially in places where air doesn't move much like laundry closets.

Honestly, trying to vent your dryer into a bucket of water is an absolutely terrible idea. Those kits are terrible at catching lint, so you just end up blasting your house with hot, humid air. Plus, it still lets fine lint and dampness escape, which slowly messes up your home. And if you have a gas dryer, this setup is downright deadly because it traps carbon monoxide inside. Seriously, save yourself the trouble and the risk— clothes dryer air must go to the outside. 

If you've ever found water inside your dryer drum when it's not running, the simple cause is usually a condensation issue driven by the weather outside. When it's hot and really humid outside, that air can sometimes bypass the damper flap on your dryer vent cap outside, sneaking its way into the vent pipe. Once that hot, moisture-laden air reaches the cooler metal casing inside your dryer—especially the drum—it hits its dew point. Just like a cold drink sweats on a summer day, the water vapor in the air condenses back into liquid, leaving those annoying little puddles in your dryer. 

Honestly, hooking your dryer vent up to one of those little indoor kits you buy at the store is a terrible idea. Sure, they promise to catch the lint and moisture, but they just don't work well enough. What you end up doing is pumping a huge amount of humidity right into your house. That makes the perfect environment for mold and mildew, which is awful for your air quality and can really mess with your breathing. The absolute worst part, though, is if you have a gas dryer. Those things produce carbon monoxide (CO), and venting that indoors is basically playing with fire—it's super dangerous, it's against all building codes, and is likely to prove fatal. Bottom line: your dryer vent air must always go outside.